Electric switch.



P. E. GILLING.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLIOATION FILED NOV.3,19'11.

1,101,272. Patented June 23, 1914 WVE/VTOR:

PRESTON E. GILLING, EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

ELEOTR-IC swrrcn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J nne 23, 1914.

Application filed November 3, 1,911. Serial No. 658,347.

To all whom it may concern: L

Be it known that I, PRESTON E. GILLING, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and Sta e OfNew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

The presentinvention relates to certain new and useful improvements in electric switches, the object of the invention being to provide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby it can be quickly rendered inoperative so that the usual swinging of the switch arm will not operate to close the circuit, thereby preventing an unauthorized party from tampering with the switch and turning on the current. v a

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric switch which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can be readily manipulated in the usual manner to open and close the circuit,- and which can be easily and quickly rendered inoperative at any desired time without the necessity of using a special toolv or actually disconnecting the wires.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel featuresthereof being pointed out. inthe appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of, an electric switch constructed in accordance with the invention, the handle or knob being applied to the switch arm so that by suitably swinging the switch arm the circuit can be broken and closed in the usual manner. Fig. 2' is a top plan view of the switch with the handle, removed so that. the usual swinging of the switch arm will not operate to break and close the circuit. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View through the switch. as shown by Fig. 1. Fig. it is a similar view through the switch as shown by Fig. 2. Fig.' 5 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the detachable knob or handle, and Fig. 6 is an en.- larged side elevation of the detachable knob or handle.

Corresponding and like parts are referred hers,

to in the followi'ng'description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by. the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the present embodiment of the invention, the numeral 1 designates the switch base which may be formed of any suitable material, and is shown as hollowed out from the inner face thereof. This base 1 is provided with suitable'openings 2 adapted to receive screws or similar fastening members for holding the switch in position. One side of the base is formed with .shoulder 5 formed with an inner curved face which is concentric with the axis of the switch arm. switch arm ,4. is hinged upon a bolt or pivot pin 18 provided at the outer end thereof with a head 20, the said bolt passing through the switch base and having the inner end thereof threaded for the reception of a nut 21. A washer 22 may be interposed between the switch arm 4. and the enlargement or In the present instance, this head 3, and the pivot bolt 19 holds the swinging arm tightly against the top of the head 3 so that the free end thereof tends to swing downwardly again-st the shoulder 5.

A series of contact members 6, 7 a-nd 8 are applied tothe base 1 adjacent the inner face of the shoulder 5, the said contact memhers being formed with depressions 9 and also with stems 10 which pass through the base and are threaded for the reception of nuts 11, the said nuts serving as a means for holding the'contact members in position. One of the terminals of a circuit would be connected to the pivot bolt 19, while the opposite terminal of different circuits would be connected to the different contact mem- It is preferred to connect terminals to the end contact members 6 and 8 and to leave the intermediate contact" member 7 free from any connections so as to provide a contact stud 15 applied to the base thereof in some suitable manner as b means of the stem 16. This contact stud is formed with an intermediate contracted portion or stem 17, and also with a lower rounded portion or head 18 of such a size as to pass freely through the enlarged inner end' 13 offthe slot in the switch arm, while the contracted portionor stem 17 of the contact stud is'of such a size as to be received withinthe con-' t'racted portion 12 of the said slot. In order to apply the knob or handle to the switch, the head 18 is inserted through the enlarged portion 13 of the slot untilthe upper portion of the head 15 contacts with the top of the switch arm, arid the handle then moved outwardly to bring the stem 17 of the contact stud into the contracted portion 12 of the slot. When the knob or handle reaches the outer limit of its movement, the lower rounded face of the head 18 can be swung .into engagement with the depressions 9 of the several contacts. When the head 18 is in engagement with the middle contact memher, the switch is in a neutral position, while by swinging the arm to bring the head 18 into engagement with either of the end contacts 6 or 8, either of the-circuits can be closed. The resiliency of the switch arm 4 tends to' hold the head 18 in engagement with the depressions 9 of the contacts, and the codperation between these two elements holds the switch arm against accidental displacement, since a certain amount of force must be applied to the switch arm in order.

to move the head out of any of the depressions 9.

By reference to Fig. 4 it'will be seen that the shoulder 5 projects upwardly away from the switch base 1 farther than the contact members, and when the handle 14 is detached from the switch arm, the, said switch arm is held out of engagement with the contact members and can be'moved freely in the usual manner without closing any of the circuits. hen it is desired 'to leave the switch, it is merely necessary 'to slide the handle 14 to the inner end of the slot 12 and then lift the handle away from the switch essential in order to successfully operate theswitch and close any of the circuits.

I have shown in the drawings a plate of sheet-metal 23 laid against the under side of the base 1, perforated to receive the stem 10 and pivot bolt 19 and clamped firmly to the base by nuts 11 and 21 on said stem and bolt, respectively. This plate 23 simplyreinforces the base when the insulating material of which said base is composed is a little weak or brittle, and can be omitted without affecting the invention. Said plate of course does not reach to the stems or nuts of the end contacts 6 and 8, and if the middle contact is a neutral rest, as shown, it does not need to be insulated from the plate. Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A switch including a base,a swinging switch arm pivotally carried by said base,

an arcuate shoulder at a distance from the pivotal mounting-0f said switch arm and providing a plane surface against which the outer end of the switch arm may rest, a contact member in the base and adjacent to the said shoulder and below the plane of its top whereby the switch arm is positively prevented from engagementwith the contact member, a contact device, and interengaging means between said contact device and said switch arm whereby said contact device may detachably engage said arm to project therebelow and make electrical connection between the contact member and the switch arm. I

2. A switch including a base, a switch arm pivotally mounted upon the base and formed with a slot having one end thereof enlarged, a contact member, means for holding the switch arm out of engagement with the contact member, a contact stud having an end small enough to be, inserted through the large end of the slot of the switch arm andformed with a neck to fit into the contracted portion of the slot, the contact stud projecting below the switch arm to produce an electrical connection with the contact memher.

3. A switch including a base, a swinging switch arm pivotally mounted thereon and formed with a slot having one end thereof enlargedya contact member, a shoulder projecting from the base and serving to prevent the switch arm from engaging the contact member, a detachable handle, and a contact stud carried by'the handle said contact stud being small enough to be inserted through the enlarged endof the slot in the switch arm and said contact stud being formed with a contracted portion to fit into the contracted portion of the'slot.

4. A switch including a base, a switch arm pivotally'mounted upon the base and formed with a slot having one end therof enlarged, a contact member formed with a.

depression, a should. arranged under the switch arm. to hold t e switch arm out of electrical connection between the contact member and the switch arm when the neck 10 of the contact stud is in a predetermined position in said contracted end of the slot.

PRESTON E. GILLING. Witnesses:

CORNELIUS ZABRIsKm, FRANCES E. BLODGET'L, 

